#amwriting – Page 140 – Jean's Writing

Writing with the Rule of Three

Published on April 21, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

R = Rule

The Rule of Three is used in speaking, writing, and music.

Through the Rule of Three ideas are more interesting, enjoyable, funny, scary, memorable and more effective. The Rule of Three can create reader expectation, it can also intensify conflicts and help to hook the reader. From slogans, to nursery rhymes we see the principle of three are everywhere. And let’s not forget superstitions, “bad things come in threes.”

Stories have three parts: a beginning, middle and end
Trilogies: in films, books and plays
Screen writing: 3-act structure
Patterns: Three is the smallest number of elements to create a pattern
Classic joke structure: set-up, anticipation and punch line
A complete set: Salt, pepper and sugar
In Public Safety: “Stop, Look and Listen”
In religion: Father, Son and Holy Spirit

My A to Z serial flash continues:

Rachel stared at the distorted image flickering above the hot black asphalt, convinced there was no place hotter than Texas in August. Not even hell. She cranked the AC higher praying for relief and an end to this long road.

This morning she’d thought the trip a good idea, but now she just wanted it to end. She leaned over the steering wheel and peered through the windshield. Smoke now mingled with the shimmering heat, rising with the sun’s reflection. A loud clank shook the car and it came to an abrupt stop.

“Shit,” Rachel yelled, “Shit, Shit.”

She flipped open her phone. No signal. Miles from her destination and no sound but the ticking of a dying motor.

Today Two for One

Published on April 20, 2015April 20, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell11 Comments

Q = Quit & Quest

Quit: Give up, stop, relinquish, resign, abandon.

Quest: A mission, expedition, hunt, pursuit, or search for something. To chase, seek, hunt, pursue or go in search of something or someone.

How boring would your story be if it was just about the protagonist? Or about someone who quit every time the going got tough?

A good story is about something happening to the protagonist. A problem that needs fixing, a solution that needs finding or a need that needs fulfilling. A quest. A quest with clear opposition and with something to lose if they fail, and about someone who doesn’t quit.

It’s been a rough few days and I feel like throwing in the towel. Not feeling well can stifle the creative flow. Plus, the A to Z challenge is harder than I thought it would be and not for the faint of heart. Today, I feel like quitting.

But like any good protagonist I’ll keep trying to finish the quest and make it to Z.

She’d left any marked evidence of civilization over an hour ago. If the scenery didn’t change soon, her mark would see her coming for miles. Little to no traffic passed her on the long flat highway, an occasional rusty pickup didn’t count. Rachel checked the map on her phone. Less than an hour to go before she reached her target. There had to be a way to sneak close without detection. Maybe closer to the Red River a solution would appear.

How to write a premise for your story

Published on April 18, 2015April 18, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

P = Premise

Writing a Premise vs Concept

The premise and the concept, are not the same.

A premise is the essence of a story that unfolds based on the concept.

A concept is a story organized around a main idea or theme.

In fiction, a premise contains three things:

the protagonist – an event provokes the protagonist to act (not react)
the setting – where the protagonist acts on some desire with purposeful intention
the problem the protagonist faces – chaos and adventure leads to resolution

A premise identifies the need and proposes a solution for the hero and implied plot . A high conceptual theme can empower the story.

The premise is a general description (foundation) of the story you plan to tell. With a premise you shape an idea into a story with a two or three sentence statement, similar to a log-line.

A premise acts a guide for the writer, helping when you get stuck, and keeping you on the path to the heart of your story. It doesn’t have to be fancy or jaw dropping but a good premise is a lifeline for the writer keeping you grounded and on track.

The premise of my short serial.

A female Texas Ranger is working in the San Antonio office. She feels the need to prove herself as capable as any of the men as she sets out to find the hacker that held her computer for ransom. Leading her on a chase across the state of Texas to catch her man.

What do you think?

For info on writing a premise check out the links below:

http://www.writermag.com/2013/09/01/how-to-structure-a-premise-for-stronger-stories/

http://www.wheresthedrama.com/loglinespremises.htm

http://www.mybooktherapy.com/articles/how-to-get-published-articles/step-6-build-your-premise/

http://www.ceauthors.com/premise.htm

http://www.storyispromise.com/wpremise.htm

http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/story-premise.html

Avoid too much sweetness

Published on April 16, 2015April 16, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell11 Comments

N = Nice

Are your characters too nice? Too agreeable?

Readers don’t want perfection, they prefer reality.

Readers can relate to reality.

Too much niceness can seem artificial as Sweet-n-Low and turn off your readers.

I bet your favorite and most memorable characters were flawed and sometimes down right disagreeable.

Write characters who are engaging, interesting and filled with conflict. People who are most often warring with their own nature, or good and evil.

She typed the coordinates Mac had emailed into her smart phone. As luck would have it, the perp was an eight-hour drive from San Antonio. At least he was still in Texas, that would make things easier for her but harder for the hacker. Rachel smiled as she reached into her desk drawer and retrieved her sidearm. Kindness never killed anyone but she knew what did. She didn’t get her reputation by being nice. However, she always got her man.